Free State police have opened an inquest following the death of a three-year-old boy who was mauled to death by two pit bulls on Sunday morning in Welkom, Free State. According to police spokesperson Captain Steven Thakeli, the toddler was playing with his friends at his home in Heneman when the vicious dogs bit him. He died on the scene. Thakeli told newsnote that angry residents wanted to attack the owner of the dogs who had to be rescued and one of his pit bulls killed.
“Members of the Welkom Public Order Police, POP were summoned to the scene and removed the owner to a safe place. One of the dogs was killed with garden spades, hit with stones, and ultimately burnt to death and the other one was taken by the SPCA for safekeeping. Police are monitoring the area, ‘’ Said Thakeli.
The Pitbull Federation of South Africa has sent a message of condolences to the family of the boy and called on pit bull owners who feel overwhelmed with the breed to surrender them to relevant organisations. This comes just two days after an eight-year-old pupil, Olebogeng Mosime was laid to rest in Mangaung after he was attacked and killed by his neighbour’s pit bull in Vista Park last Saturday.
Some South Africans are lobbying for a ban on the breeding and keeping of pitbulls as pets following a number of deaths caused by the vicious dogs and there is a petition on social media calling for those who support the lobbyist to sign it.
However, the pro pitbull lobby groups, say that it is the careless owners of the breed who must be prosecuted for failing to protect members of the public from being attacked by the dogs. Speaking at the funeral service the deputy principal of Roseview Primary, Thandeka Msiza told mourners that Mosime’s passing cut deep through their hearts as they were celebrating their prizegiving a day before he died.